(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers to Families Food Box Program has distributed more than five million food boxes in support of American farmers and families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The Farmers to Families Food Box Program was designed to put American farmers and distributors of all …
Market Looking Good for Tomato Growers
By Clint Thompson Tomato growers across the Southeast are enjoying high prices right now, which marks a significant change from March when Florida producers had to leave many in the field amid the coronavirus pandemic. That is not the case anymore, however, says Michael Schadler, executive vice president at the Florida Tomato Exchange. “Market price has been high. Coming down …
Watermelon Board Pivots Nutrition Education Strategy to Digital Model
With growing season in and home schooling out, NWPB is meeting an essential need for parents working from home and teachers preventing the summer slide WINTER SPRINGS, FL — June 3, 2020 — The National Watermelon Promotion Board (NWPB) is realigning resources to adapt to a new climate while focusing on summer sales. Unlike years past when summer months meant in-person …
2020 Caneberry Survey on Pricing, COVID-19 Impacts
— Written By Daniel Tregeagle The North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association (NARBA), in collaboration with NC State University and the University of Arkansas, is conducting its biennial pricing survey. Growers of caneberries (raspberries, blackberries, and hybrids) in Canada and the U.S. will be asked about prices they received across all distribution methods. This year, additional questions have been added …
Hemp interest still strong in the Southeast
By Clint Thompson The Southeast is primed to ramp up its hemp production. Alabama is ready for its second year of production, while Georgia and Florida are just getting started. If the number of grower applications is any indication, interest in hemp is extremely high in all three states. Hemp drew 166 grower applicants and eight applications for processor permits …
Economist Fearful CFAP Funds Won’t Be Enough
By Clint Thompson One agricultural economist fears there might be insufficient funds to cover farmers who apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. Max Runge, Extension specialist in agricultural economics and rural sociology at Auburn University, believes the 80% of maximum total payment allotted for applicants will not be enough considering the number of producers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. …
Optimizing Nitrogen in Cabbage Production
By Ashley Robinson A shortage of nitrogen is the most common reason for a cabbage crop not reaching its full yield potential. However, applying too much nitrogen may cause more harm than good. It’s important to determine the optimal rate for production. Researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA) and the University of Florida are working in collaboration to conduct …
United Fresh Says Produce Buying Climbed During COVID-19
United Fresh Produce released its first quarter of 2020 issue of Fresh Facts on Retail report that details the rising number of fresh produce purchases in 2020. The unprecedented rise in food and beverage consumption at home was brought about by shelter-in-place orders issued to slow the spread of the coronavirus. “Those closures have led to consumers drastically restructuring their …
Potato Industry Feels Left Out of CFAP
The National Potato Council and state grower organizations wrote Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue recently to talk about potatoes that have nowhere to go for processing. The Hagstrom Report says the council noted more than “1.5 billion pounds of fresh potatoes for processing and potato products are trapped in the supply chain with no likely customers.” Mountains of potatoes were being …
Blueberry Industry Leaders Hoping for Category 1 Status
By Clint Thompson Blueberry industry leaders were disappointed its farmers were not included in category 1 of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. They hope to rectify the situation during the 30-day comment period that the USDA has allowed for feedback. “Where we landed with the direct payment program, obviously we learned (two weeks ago), it was disappointing because the one …